I'll be showin' an' tellin' THE SILVER AGE OF COMIC BOOK ART—and signing copies of my newly-released hardcover book—at next Tuesday night's COMIC BOOK CLUB live talk show October 28, 2014 at 7:00pm at Fontana's, 105 Eldridge Street on the Lower East Side of NYC, with hosts Pete LePage and Justin Tyler—and guest Jeff Newelt (aka Jahfurry)! www.comicbookclublive.com

Though I'll be debuting the hardcover edition of my new book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, at the New York Comic Con October 9-12 (and lecturing that Sunday at 3:15), for all those in the NY metro area who couldn't get tickets, I'm happy to announce I'll be presenting the same lecture and signing books the very next night, at the very cool Bowery Poetry Club on Monday, October 13, 2014 at 6:30pm (https://www.facebook.com/events/698427716893543/)! Seating is limited to 80 people, and the $10 ticket price will get you $10 off the $50 hardcover!

From Eclecticka's Dean Plakas: "Informative and entertaining show, but it always is with special guest Arlen Schumer! Hope to have the Sensei of the Silver Age on again next week with other guests when we discuss the Supreme Court's ruling on whether or not it will hear the Jack Kirby case and the ramifications of its decision either way."

Suzette Chan writes, "I wandered into Arlen Schumer's excellent talk about fine art and comic book art at SDCC this summer. A few weeks later, I interviewed him on the occasion of the revised edition of The Silver Age of Comic Book Art. (Thanks for your time, Arlen!) The interview is up now at Sequential Tart: http://sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=2647"

My revised hardcover will make its official debut at the NY Comic Con at the Jacob Javits Center (http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com) on October 9, 2014—and I'll be lecturing on it that Sunday, 10/12/2014 @ 3:15pm in Rm #1A05—but until then, come join my Silver Age of Comic Book Art Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1439974386262060/) to reserve a signed hardcover and receive all updates!

"I finally got to attend one of Arlen Schumer's panels—this one was called "Art & Comic Book Art," and yes, this man is one heck of a public speaker and he knows art and comic books like nobody else. He entertained and enthralled as he shared his knowledge and ideas about the various connections between fine art and the greatest comic book art—and there are many. When the revised edition of his book comes out, I'll be raving about it!"

"The Silver Age of Comic Book Art Returns" Friday, August 15, 2014, 5:00pm

Ten years ago, comic book historian Arlen Schumer's book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, won the Independent Publishers' Award for Best Book about Popular Culture—but then went out of print shortly after. Now back in a revised, expanded hardcover—and ebook—edition, Schumer's presentation explores the origins of the superhero traditions and their personification of American ideals and values, and how these attitudes and portrayals changed during the turbulent decade of the 1960s. You'll not only see where Hollywood's love affair with superhero movies comes from—but because Schumer projects comic book panels and pages in a way that graphically communicates the sequential nature of comic book art itself, you'll "see" comics like you've never seen them before!

"Bill Finger: The Man Who Made Batman, Batman" Saturday, August 16, 2014, 12:45pm

On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of Batman's debut, comic book historian Arlen Schumer (The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) examines the origins of the character, concentrating specifically on the contributions of artist Bob Kane's writer/partner, Bill Finger, whose graphic recommendations and other concepts and ideas gave Batman his initial look and mystique, qualities intact in the character to this day. In his presentation, Schumer recreates, step by step, the never-seen, unpublished first sketch Kane showed Finger before bringing it to DC Comics, based on Kane's and Finger's own recollections.

"Art & Comic Book Art" Sunday, August 17, 2014, 1:45pm

Just as art historians look back 500 years ago on the great Renaissance masters of the human figure like Michelangelo and Raphael, so too will art historians 500 years from now look back on the great masters of the human figure of our time, our great comic book artists like Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, Joe Kubert, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane—to name a few. Yet in fine art circles, it is still considered argumentally blasphemous to compare/contrast the two sets of artists. Join comic book historian Arlen Schumer (The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) as he does just that, with his provocative, perceptive presentation, based on his verbal/visual essay in the Fall 2014 hardcover comix anthology, A-1.

I do my site ComicSpectrum because I love comics. Same thing with the 6+ years I spent doing the ComicBookPage podcast. But it's not just the love of comics, it's trying to spread the word that there is some seriously good stuff going on in comics, it's not just a throw away medium for kids. Comics are a unique art-form that deserve to be taken every bit as seriously as any other form of artistic expression. This panel by Arlen Schumer really spoke to me. Arlen's multi-media presentation with visuals, music, and his powerful narrative descriptions blew me away, it's the best all-purpose panel about comics as an art form I've ever attended. The man has showmanship down pat. He expressed beautifully what I have felt for many years. If you ever get a chance to hear Arlen talk about comics, do it! Comparing Degas & Carmine Infantino? I love it! The fact that I collect Pieta homage comic covers and he had a section of the talk touch on the Pieta was a bonus!

From the program book: "As art historians look back on the great Renaissance masters of the human figure like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, so too will art historians years from now look back on the great masters of the human figure of our time—our great comic book artists like Jack Kirby, Neal Adams and Carmine Infantino (to name a few); yet in fine art and academic circles, it is still considered argumentally blasphemous to compare/contrast the two groups of artists and their various styles. So join comic book art historian Arlen Schumer (The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) as he does just that with his latest, most provocative presentation, curating a fascinating journey through art and comic book art—based on his verbal/visual essay for the upcoming Fall '14 hardcover comix anthology A-1, edited by Dave Elliott, who'll join Schumer for a lively Q&A with the audience."